PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kenshi Yoshino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Musashi Kuroda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kuroda is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Master of Puppets. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Yoshino
vs
Kuroda

177 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kenshi Yoshino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Musashi Kuroda!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Yoshino is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kuroda's half guard.

Yoshino looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kuroda tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Kuroda is trying to maintain the position but Yoshino is very close to passing his half guard.

Kuroda looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Yoshino is working for a kimura but Kuroda is defending it quite comfortably.
Yoshino scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshino is stalling here. Kuroda is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Yoshino seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kuroda has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Yoshino is looking to regain half guard here but Kuroda keeps moving and retains side control.

Kuroda goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Yoshino has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kuroda but great work by Yoshino.
Kuroda is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The strikes coming from Yoshino are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Yoshino lands a few punches from side control.

Yoshino is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kuroda knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Yoshino working the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuroda regains half guard there - taking advantage of Yoshino's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Kuroda is not content to let Yoshino control the position.
Yoshino trying to mount his opponent but Kuroda defends it.
Yoshino content to control rather than advance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuroda wants to improve his position but Yoshino is controlling well.
Yoshino slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yoshino looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Yoshino trying to pass the guard but Kuroda defending well.
Yoshino prevents Kuroda from improving his position.
Kuroda desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kuroda has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Yoshino is working away from the top position though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Yoshino scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kuroda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Yoshino looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yoshino slows the pace down in half guard.
Yoshino blocks the strikes from Kuroda.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kuroda trying to control from the bottom.
Kuroda might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Yoshino kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshi Yoshino dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Yoshino throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kuroda was covering up waiting for the punch and Yoshino finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kuroda keeping moving, preventing Yoshino from controlling successfully.
Yoshino won't allow Kuroda to sweep him here.
Yoshino postures up.
Yoshino trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuroda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Kenshi Yoshino has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kuroda shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Yoshino napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kuroda misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Kuroda is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Yoshino knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Yoshino sneaks back into half guard.
Kuroda is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yoshino is looking for a sweep. Kuroda is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Yoshino manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kuroda trying to control but Yoshino is working from the bottom.
Kuroda looking to sit in guard and control but Yoshino gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Yoshino slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yoshino wants to control from the top but Kuroda keeps moving.

Kuroda is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Yoshino working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Yoshino passes into half guard.
Yoshino tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kuroda knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Yoshino controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Kenshi Yoshino just wasn't active enough.

Yoshino is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kuroda's half guard.
Kuroda is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Yoshino is looking to advance position but Kuroda won't allow it.
Kenshi Yoshino overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuroda is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Yoshino scores with a couple of nice shots.

Kuroda is defending against the submission attempts here by Yoshino.
Yoshino seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuroda does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Yoshino is trying to work for a kimura but Kuroda is defending well.

Yoshino is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kuroda defends it well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yoshino is keen to just control but Kuroda is a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenshi Yoshino dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick misses from Kuroda.

Kuroda tries to keep at a distance but Yoshino has taken the fight into the clinch.

Yoshino has hold of one of Kuroda's legs. Kuroda is fighting the takedown attempt but Yoshino gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Yoshino is pushing down on Kuroda's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kuroda is fighting to maintain full guard but Yoshino has managed to sneak the leg through.

Yoshino is working for a submission of some sort.
Yoshino is keen to just control but Kuroda is a slippery customer.

Yoshino is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Yoshino is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuroda tries to roll over but Yoshino keeps him under control.
Yoshino is thwarting Kuroda's attempts to control the position.
Kuroda taking some punishment here, with Yoshino in his half guard.
Yoshino is controlling the pace.
Yoshino is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Yoshino trying to control but Kuroda is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuroda is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kuroda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kuroda is squirming around, avoiding Yoshino's attempts to control the action.
Yoshino landing shots from mount.

Yoshino wants to finish this one by submission but Kuroda is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Yoshino.
Yoshino looking to control but Kuroda is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kuroda is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Yoshino locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Kuroda is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kenshi Yoshino!